Internet platforms such as Airbnb and Uber make it in Portugal, more and more profit. The ‘Sharing Economy’ flourishes as there is hardly anywhere else in Europe. But why is this so?
Share in Portugal is big in fashion: Airbnb gives there are more apartments than in China or in Germany. And the Uber-southern Europe-Head of Giovanna D‘Esposito has recently declared Portugal to the “Golden model” of your company. The Sharing Economy has become not only an important economic factor – the Portuguese also full of enthusiasm. As a Uber driver, the tourist-hotelier or a Food delivery man, and although you don’t earn so much. Therefore, scientists and a few politicians doubt that the business with the Share really works.
More than two billion euros have left, for example, Airbnb tourists, according to Figures from the company last year in Portugal: 115 Euro a day, allegedly, almost half of which is in the city of share issued, in which they lived. This makes the country the tenth most important Airbnb market in the world, even if the Locals grumble around 3.4 million Airbnb tourists in the past year, ever louder about the “rolling suitcase for a tourist invasion”. Nevertheless, the rental has platform, developed for the middle class to a type of business model: it draws from the city in the cheaper suburbs, to rent the Apartment in Lisbon through Airbnb.
The continuing tourism Boom in the Sharing Economy in Portugal are in bloom. Here tourists at Camões square in Lisbon.
Additional income is needed urgently
“Many need the additional income to bring their family to make ends meet,” observes José Soeiro, the economic policy spokesman of the left party Bloco da Esquerda, dry. Because they could not cope with the increased cost of living differently, leased, even the high-school teachers, and senior officials from their homes on the Internet platforms. It is not going to share an apartment with people from other countries, but simply economic Survival.
The sociologist Elísio Estanque looks at Portugal’s Boom of the Sharing Economy rather critical
“A large part of the Portuguese deserves only the state-guaranteed minimum wage of 600 euros per month. Since you have at the end of the month as an Uber driver just a little more in the bag,” explains the sociologist Elísio Estanque by the centre for social studies, University of Coimbra. He conducts research on the ‘Uberisierung’ of labour relations in Portugal.
High Price
The price of the boom of the Sharing Economy is high: Of their slightly higher income, the need for drivers to self-social security charges and operating costs, calculates Estanque. On top of that, you’re carrying the full responsibility for accidents and other possible problems. “A lot of travel in their leisure time, have actually a professional. I was offered to do the. You must register only, everything is incredibly easy.” In addition, Portugal’s government propagandize constantly innovative entrepreneurship and Internet businesses. Result: In the large cities, there are now more Uber as a taxi driver.
And the Sharing Economy in Portugal has for Elísio Estanque a dangerous hook to the deterioration of the already poor working conditions: “fixed working hours, a guaranteed income, social protection, there is not. The labour laws will be softened.” While an employee of a taxi driver, a fourteen month salaries earned just under 1000 Euro net, stay in a well-paid Uber driver, according to estimates, at the end of the month, there were around 750 Euro more in your pocket. He needs to control, but still, and social security numbers; protection from dismissal, he has not, of course.
Uber cars must be marked in Portugal by a small sticker with the inscription TVDE. Otherwise, however, there are hardly any rules.
Working In The Legal Space
The left-politician José Soeiro holds the ‘Sharing industry’ is rather a curse instead of a blessing. That’s why his party calls as one of the few, the business of Internet platforms by law to: “The Boom of the Sharing Economy in Portugal is mainly due to the fact that it takes place in a nearly lawless area.” And the government do not trust themselves to attack the Problem. “We had the big crisis, and now the tourism is an important economic factor. The unemployment rate has fallen, because want to mess with Uber or Airbnb,” says Soeiro. Even if this precarious work and bogus self-employment is promoted will be created. The government, however, has to pray in the otherwise very generous contracts with Uber and Airbnb: The income of the Portuguese service provider, must be reported to the tax office.
The Internet platforms, to praise, however, the silence of the government, because of the tourism boom, larger and larger shops. Also the Uber driver Nuno, just wants to call his first name, is enthusiastic about the Sharing Economy. He drives for a company that works for Uber, before that, he worked for a security company. He made money, the ten-hour working day from do nothing to him. “I exploited?”, he asks rather surprised. “The have all of the other employers before me.”
Maybe with the Parts in Portugal doesn’t work as well as good.